Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)
Academic Term
Summer 2015
Document Type
Project
Course Number
NURS 5330
Course Name
Advanced Pathophysiology
Professor’s Name
John D. Chovan, James R. Cacchillo
Keywords
Septic Shock, Organ Failure
Subject Categories
Bacterial Infections and Mycoses | Medical Pathology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing
Abstract
The current definition of sepsis is suspected or documented infection plus at least one systemic manifestation of infection. Severe sepsis has been defined as sepsis plus evidence of organ dysfunction. Identifying acute organ dysfunction is a marker of severe sepsis. This topic was chosen after witnessing a number a patients fall into septic shock before severe sepsis was diagnosed and treatment initiated. Diagnosis of severe sepsis is important for specific protocol to be implemented in a timely fashion. The current differentiation between sepsis and severe sepsis is evidence of organ dysfunction. There are many examples of organ dysfunction that are not commonly considered when doing a patient workup. Increasing knowledge of acute organ dysfunction markers could potentially lead to earlier diagnosis of severe sepsis. The earlier it is diagnosed, the sooner treatment protocol can be initiated. Recent research showed that if severe sepsis is diagnosed timely, administration of timely drugs improved cardiovascular performance, lessened the inflammatory response, tissue hypo-perfusion and multi-organ injury, and most importantly reduced mortality (Lin, Lee, & Wu, 2013).
Recommended Citation
McSweeney, Daniell, "Identifying Acute Organ Dysfunction as a Marker of Severe Sepsis" (2015). Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN). 69.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_msn/69